Wolfenstein 3-D is the granddaddy of first-person shooters. And as such, any new entrant into the series deserves some attention. The latest, simply titled Wolfenstein (don't worry, it's still in 3D!), brings back beloved Nazi-killer BJ Blazkowicz as he attempts to stop Hitler's army from attaining an occult artifact known as the Black Sun. This isn't the first time Activision has shown off Wolfenstein. In fact, IGN's own Greg Miller wrote a preview about a month ago from New York Comic-Com. But this is the first time Activision handed over a controller and said, "put an end to the SS for us, please."

The Wolfenstein series (and the real-life Nazi party) is no stranger to the occult, but this time around things are kicked into overdrive. Frankly, there is some crazy crap going on in this game. BJ's not just the king of capping Nazis, he has a special amulet that allows him to tap into the Veil. And as a player, with just a tap of the D-Pad, I too could access the Veil.

The mission I played, Church, takes place about a third of the way into Wolfenstein. Blazkowicz has his first Veil power (Mire) and the weirdness is already in full swing. But until I took my first trip into the Veil, I could have sworn I was playing Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Though Raven Software is developing this iteration instead of id Software, the controls, pacing and art style are instantly familiar. Even the average Nazi enemy, who it seems is there just to be shot, is very much the same as when I last played a Wolfenstein game. Granted, the AI will get behind cover more often and use blindfire occasionally, but this is a game more or less about moving forward and shooting as many people as possible. That's my idea of a good time.

Things went completely foreign the moment I switched to the Veil. You can enter the Veil at any time and with no cost to your amulet's energy. Though the Veil is similar to our reality, there are some key differences. For one, the Veil has a pretty poor color palette (green is always in) and not every structure is identical. Blazkowicz's "real world" might have a wall, where in the Veil none exists. You'll find neon green markings in the Veil that work as ladders or other pathways. You move slightly faster in the Veil as well, and weak points for tougher enemies show as bright red beacons. One other advantage to the Veil is that when holding down the grenade button you can see its trajectory. It's quite helpful for tossing 'nades through the windows of Nazi strongholds.

I had access to one power during the demo. Mire allows you to slow time when in the Veil. Fortunately, you're unaffected by this, so you can use this slow-mo to rapidly kill enemies. It also allows for dodging incoming fire or crossing collapsing bridges, something that proves important for some of the traps laying about. But the real reason to slow time when playing through the Church level is to deal with the Scribes. These mystical Nazis are real sons-o'-bitches. They can move quickly, zipping back and forth to dodge your bullets, and throw balls of energy Blazkowicz's way. In the Veil (and with Mire) they aren't as tough. Mire saps your amulet's energy, but don't worry, there are plenty of Veil pools around that offer a quick recharge.

While I had plenty of fun getting on mounted turrets and mowing down Nazis too stubborn to surrender, the real joy was in taking down my first heavy trooper. This nasty dude carries around a particle cannon that can toast you if you're not careful. Fortunately, he has three bright red weak spots that, when destroyed, cause him to explode. Killing him is easy and the reward is the very particle cannon that nearly ended Blazkowicz's Nazi-stomping campaign.

A word of warning: Should you ever come across another freedom fighter with a particle cannon, don't cross the streams. I have a feeling it would be bad. Despite looking like it was inspired by some sort of '80s ghost busting documentary, the particle cannon is a thrill to use. It disintegrates Nazis in a single hit. I'm not sure if Blazkowicz needs to compensate for anything, but if so, this big gun will probably do the trick. I certainly felt like more of a man when I hoisted the particle cannon and eviscerated the Despoiled (a Veil-induced boss, created out of a mere mortal Nazi officer right before my eyes).

Wolfenstein fans will be happy to know that despite going a little off the proven path by giving Blazkowicz super-human powers, this still feels very much like the classic franchise. It's not just about the fast-paced shooting; there are plenty of hidden goodies as well. There are tomes to collect, as well as gold bars and military intel. Some of these can be found by anyone with a keen eye, but others will require the use of Blazkowicz's Veil powers to discover.

These items aren't just for show. You can trade them with a group called the Black Market. These folks offer upgrades to your Veil powers, which will be important since there don't seem to be many powers to speak of. The focus is on having a large range of upgrades for the handful of powers available to Blazkowicz. You can also upgrade your weapons in numerous ways. Of course you can make them do more damage and hold more ammo in a clip, but there are some other useful additions. Throw a scope onto your shotgun or add a silencer to your favorite rifle. Though I didn't get to fool around in the Black Market during my demo, Raven promises that the weapon upgrades are plentiful and that every weapon in the game can be customized.

Wolfenstein is coming to PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 "when it's done." Before I had my play session with Wolfenstein, I really didn't care when that time came. Like many, I found the idea of adding spellcasting to a series beloved for its gun firing a little unappealing. But after playing Wolfenstein, my interest is piqued. I don't know how the powers will play out over the full course of the game or if Raven can provide any "oops, I crapped my pants" enemies, but I want to find out.